This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nan Reinhardt will be awarding a set of 6 handmade wineglass charms and a $10 Starbucks gift card. (USA only) to 5 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
She wants a baby…he wants a family
Firefighter and paramedic Tierney Ashton has always been a bold adventurer, but at thirty-four she longs to embark on a new adventure—motherhood. But who will be the father? Although financially challenging, a sperm bank appears to be her best option. That is, until she shares her dream with her long-time pal, Brendan Flaherty.
Government analyst and world traveler Brendan Flaherty returns home to River’s Edge to help out at his family’s thriving winery and his brother’s new community theater. He also plans to finally achieve his lifelong goal of writing a novel. But when Tierney shares her wish, Bren offers to be her baby daddy—with one condition. Marriage.
It seems like a perfect contract, but will love get in the way?
Read an Excerpt
Sean scowled, then acquiesced. “I don’t blame you.” He licked his fingers and wandered over to the wall full of photos that Brendan had hung earlier that morning. “Wow! Is that you on the Great Wall of China?”
Bren nodded, his mouth full of bread and cheese.
“And where is this?” Sean pointed to a black-and-white photo of Brendan standing in front of a huge clock.
Brendan swallowed. “Prague. That’s the world’s oldest astronomical clock. Amazing, isn’t it?”
Sean’s brow furrowed as he scanned the display of more than a dozen photos from places all across the globe—some that were obvious—Moscow, London, Paris, Tokyo—and some that Bren was sure Sean wouldn’t recognize, like Zagreb, Croatia, and Podgorica in Montenegro. “Good God, Bond, all those times you said you were ‘on travel,’ we had no idea you were all over the damn globe. Conny, Ace, come check these out.”
Bren grinned. “You never asked where I was going.”
“We weren’t sure we were allowed to ask.” Aidan rose from the table to amble over to the photo wall. “Who knew? If you’d told us, you might have had to kill us.” He peered at a framed photo of Bren standing in front of an ornate palace, his arm around an attractive brunette. “Who’s this and where are you?”
Bren stood and carried Griff, who was still gnawing on a chunk of bread, over to his brothers. “Oh, that’s Agent 99, we’re in front of Bojnice Castle in Slovakia.” He said, working hard not to crack a smile. . He couldn’t help being rather proud of his perfect Slovak pronunciation, particularly since it clearly impressed his gaping brothers. Because of the research and analysis work he did for several government agencies, he’d mastered, at last count, seven different languages, but that wasn’t something he boasted about. It was simply part of his job.
Sean stared at him over the top of his glasses while Conor looked askance and said, “Oh, sure, of course it is.”
“Agent 99?” Aidan chortled. “You’re kidding, right?”
Bren just smirked. They were so convinced he was a spy, it was a kick to tease them.
I wish I was part of this circle of friends. I know, there are no more men to fall in love with but just to be able to meet them all, hang out, drink wine and then go watch Matty and Aiden. *sigh* Seriously. I’ve read every one of the books in the series and I just fall deeper in love with this family. Conny, Ace, Sean and let’s not forget Meg, Sam, and Holly. I just love all of them. Ms. Reinhardt has written one of the best series that I have read in a really long time. Seriously. In fact, I plan on re-reading them next week.
Of course, we have the tried and true tropes Friends to Lovers and then Best Friend’s sister. But Ms. Reinhardt does a twist with these tropes. We learn that their backstory is endearing but also tragic. She doesn’t dwell on this fact with Bren and Tierney but the tragedy does play into Tierney’s journey throughout the book. I loved how Ms. Reinhardt dealt with the issues between Tierney and her father. That’s a lot to have to deal with and then to finally figure out that your heart’s just not into it, that’s tough. But I admired her for it and I really needed to see some pictures of the jewelry. Just a thought for the website.
Bren is called Bond throughout the book. I loved his line that he was not a spy but an analyst, it reminded me of Jack Ryan (my ultimate book friend). Jack Ryan was constantly telling people that but they never believed him. But there are a couple of scenes with him that really makes me wonder about the spy thing. I just loved Bren from the beginning. He’s a bit OCD and geeky but that’ endearing to me. Plus, his love for his family is paramount. And also Tierney, too. The scenes with his brothers when he finally figures out that he loves her is priceless. I was waiting for a pot to appear full of money…
The girls in the book, Meg, Sam, and Holly are a hoot. Their welcoming is hilarious but also makes Tierney realize what she has truly gotten herself into at this point. Contract or not, these two were meant for each other. One was just more stubborn than the other and I’m not telling. You have to read it find out. Peeps, I can not emphasize my love for this book. I was so sad when it ended because it meant no more Flaherty’s.
Ms. Reinhardt has outdone herself with this series. Now, I need to read her Fine Wine series. Because yes, I believe that even older people can have a love life, too.
About the Author:
Nan Reinhardt is a USA Today-bestselling author of romantic fiction for women in their prime. Yeah, women still fall in love and have sex, even after 45! Imagine! She is a wife, a mom, a mother-in-law, and a grandmother. Nan has been a copyeditor and proofreader for over 25 years, and currently works on romantic fiction titles for a variety of clients, including Avon Books, St. Martin’s Press, HarperCollins, Kensington Books, Tule Publishing, and Entangled Publishing, as well as for many indie authors.
Although she loves her life as an editor, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten, a love story between the most sophisticated person she knew at the time, her older sister (who was in high school and had a driver’s license!), and a member of Herman’s Hermits. If you remember who they are, you are Nan’s audience! Her latest series, the Four Irish Brothers Winery series is available from Tule Publishing and all book retailers. Books 1 through 3 are currently available; Book 4 releases July 16, 2020 and is available for preorder.
Visit Nan’s website at www.nanreinhardt.com, where you’ll find links to all her books as well as blogs about writing, being a Baby Boomer, and aging gracefully…mostly. Nan also blogs every third Tuesday at Word Wranglers, sharing the spotlight with five other romance authors, is a frequent contributor the RWA Contemporary Romance blog, and she contributes to the Romance University blog where she writes as Editor Nan.
Website: http://www.nanreinhardt.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornanreinhardt
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NanReinhardt
Buy Link for The Baby Contract
BN https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-baby-contract-nan-reinhardt/1136768046
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-baby-contract-6
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Contract-Irish-Brothers-Winery-ebook/dp/B086L7MMYL/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
enjoyed the review
denise
great cover art to a wonderful sounding story. added to TBR list.
Thank you for having me here today and for the wonderful review! Good news! A new River’s Edge series is coming, so the Flaherty’s will still be around and you’ll be able to catch up with them. 😉
What a great book this is!
Thanks for hosting!